Not surprisingly Schloss Neuschwanstein is one of he most popular tourist destinations in Europe with about 1.5 million visitors per year.

Ludwig started building this castle in 1869 on the Swan Rock in the Romanesque Revival style replacing earlier ruins. Unfortunately never fully completed due to Ludwig’s untimely death in 1886. The local political dignitaries – who may have been involved in Ludwig’s early death – complained bitterly at the time about the construction expenses. There is therefore an irony in the fact that the state has gained significantly more financially through the tourism that Neuschwanstein has generated over the years compared to the initial building costs.